DPO Chair’s Response to the Presidential Election

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted. And it is not what we fought for. But the light of America’s promise will always burn bright – as long as we never give up and keep fighting…The fight for the ideals that reflect America at its best: Freedom, opportunity, fairness, and dignity.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, November 6, 2024

I won’t sugar-coat any of my words today – the stunning defeat on November 5th is a dark moment in American history. The 2024 election was a hard fought battle. Millions of people came together – in Oregon and across America – to build a brighter future. Sadly, our efforts did not culminate into the national victory we had hoped to achieve. In this moment, I am reminded of what President Nelson Mandela taught us. There were many dark moments when his faith in humanity was sorely tested, but he always concluded with these words: “I would not and could not give myself up to despair.”

So while we are disappointed and bewildered, we must not give ourselves up to despair. Trump’s return to the White House and Republican control of the Senate will have significant consequences for many of our indispensable freedoms and fundamental values. But that is exactly why we must come together and continue our sacred work. I know Democrats will never back down in the face of  adversity and a political defeat. We will continue to rise up and persist in fighting to protect the freedoms for which we have fought so hard.

We will maintain our hope and optimism that as House races are called, we’ll have a real chance of winning back the House majority, an essential check against a Trump administration. We have built a formidable force of committed warriors for democracy. We will overcome the challenges we face by working together in unity of purpose, bound by shared principles and values.

In Oregon, Democrats successfully defended our majorities in the state legislature. We elected good, effective, honest people to Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer. We were successful in our critical Congressional races, and we have every reason to hope for victory in Congressional District 5! Let these successes here at home encourage us to put one foot in front of the other, as my military Dad would say, as we continue our march toward a free, just, and equal society. Future generations are depending on us to do so!

Friends, please remember that you are not alone. And know that we have a plan. In May of 2025, we will have our next chance to elect good people to public office. I invite you to join our efforts to build a brighter future by going to DPO.org/GetInvolved and sign up to volunteer, become a Neighborhood Leader, or run for office. Thank you so much!

As Vice President Harris has said, “While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.” With this same spirit of  determination and love, let us come together to overcome our shared adversity and continue to build the world we envision for ourselves and for future generations.

We are steadfast. We are resolute. And we are many.

In unity of purpose,

Rosa Colquitt, PhD

State Party Chair

Democratic Party of Oregon